Samson Satele back with Dolphins as stopgap center

AP

The Dolphins signed center Samson Satele (69) on Saturday after their first training camp scrimmage, an indication they're unhappy with the other candidates to fill in for injured Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey.

Satele has been a starter his entire career, including 24 games the past two seasons for playoff teams in Indianapolis. The native of Hawaii welcomed the chance to return to Miami ("No snow," he noted) as Pouncey's potential replacement.

Coach Joe Philbin made no promises to Satele regarding either the weather or playing time.

"I told him he's competing for a job just like the other 14 offensive linemen," Philbin said.

While Satele lined up with the first team some on Monday, Pouncey worked on the side Monday and looked good high-stepping during one rehabilitation drill. But Pouncey's expected to miss at least a couple of games and perhaps more while he recovers from hip surgery in June.

"I've got a good opportunity to start a couple of games here before big boy Mike comes back," Satele said.

The offense continued to sputter in practice, as it has done for much of camp. There were three false-start penalties by the first team, and Ryan Tannehill threw two interceptions returned for touchdowns.

At least there were no fumbled snaps. Satele said his head was spinning Sunday as he tried to learn the offense, but he predicted he'll be ready for Friday's exhibition opener at Atlanta.

"It's not my first rodeo," Satele said. "Today wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, but tomorrow will be better, and Wednesday will be better."

Satele's old enough that he refers to the 26-year-old Tannehill as "Kid." The only players who were with the Dolphins during Satele's last go-round with Miami are Garner, defensive tackle Randy Starks, long snapper John Denney and punter Brandon Fields.

So what does Satele remember about his rookie season with the worst team in Dolphins history?

"It was all a blur," Satele said with a chuckle. "I don't want to remember that."